VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR
A stabilized oscillator includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a load, an amplifier, and an oscillator using an LC resonant circuit. The first transistor includes a source terminal connected to a first reference voltage line, a gate terminal connected to a first node, and a drain terminal connected to a second node. The second transistor includes a source terminal connected to the first reference voltage line, a gate terminal connected to the first node, and a drain terminal connected to a third node. The load is connected between the third node and a second reference voltage line. The amplifier has an output terminal connected to the first node, a first input terminal connected to the second node, and a second input terminal connected to the third node. The oscillator is connected between the second node and the second reference voltage line.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-037079, filed Feb. 26, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELDEmbodiments described herein relate generally to voltage controlled oscillators.
BACKGROUNDIn the related art, a voltage control oscillator (VCO) provided with a transistor has been used as a drive current source. In such a VCO, since a drive current commensurate with the gate voltage of the transistor flows through the VCO, if noise is in the gate voltage, phase noise is generated in the output of the VCO.
Thus, in order to reduce noise in the gate voltage, a circuit that applies a gate voltage via a low-pass filter (LPF) is proposed. However, since a large LPF is required to reduce the phase noise of the VCO, the circuit size is undesirably increased. Moreover, it is difficult to reduce phase noise caused by fluctuations in a power-supply voltage.
A VCO that detects the output amplitude of the VCO with an amplitude detector and controls the gate voltage such that the output amplitude becomes constant in order to reduce phase noise caused by fluctuations in a power-supply voltage has been proposed, but this VCO requires a large LPF and the amplitude detector becomes a load of a non-negligible size for the VCO, which undesirably degrades the performance of the VCO.
Embodiments provide a voltage controlled (i.e., stabilized) oscillator in which phase noise is reduced.
In general, according to one embodiment, a stabilized oscillator includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a load, an amplifier, and an oscillator using an LC resonant circuit. The first transistor includes a source terminal connected to a first reference voltage line, a gate terminal connected to a first node, and a drain terminal connected to a second node. The second transistor includes a source terminal connected to the first reference voltage line, a gate terminal connected to the first node, and a drain terminal connected to a third node. The load has one end connected to the third node and another end connected to a second reference voltage line. The amplifier has an output terminal connected to the first node, a first input terminal connected to the second node, and a second input terminal connected to the third node. The oscillator has one end connected to the second node and another end connected to the second reference voltage line.
Hereinafter, embodiments are described with reference to the drawings.
FIRST EMBODIMENTFirst, a VCO according to a first embodiment is described with reference to
The first transistor M1 is a P-channel MOS transistor (hereinafter referred to as a “PMOS”) and has a source terminal connected to a power-supply line (a first reference voltage line), a gate terminal connected to a first node N1, and a drain terminal connected to a second node N2.
The second transistor M2 is a PMOS and includes a source terminal connected to the power-supply line (the first reference voltage line), a gate terminal connected to the first node N1, and a drain terminal connected to a third node N3.
The load Z has one end connected to the third node N3 and the other end connected to a grounding conductor (a second reference voltage line).
The amplifier OP is an operational amplifier and includes an output terminal connected to the first node N1, a negative input terminal (a first input terminal) connected to the second node N2, and a positive input terminal (a second input terminal) connected to the third node N3.
The oscillator OSC is an oscillator that includes an LC resonant circuit and has one end connected to the second node N2 and the other end connected to the grounding conductor (the second reference voltage line). The oscillator OSC is driven by a current which is supplied from the first transistor M1 and outputs an oscillation signal from an output terminal OUT.
Hereinafter, the voltage at the first node N1 is referred to as VP, the voltage at the second node N2 is referred to as VOSC, and the voltage at the third node N3 is referred to as Vload. Moreover, it is assumed that the oscillation signal is a voltage Vswing.
In this embodiment, since the second node N2 is connected to the negative input terminal of the amplifier OP and the third node N3 is connected to the positive input terminal of the amplifier OP, the second node N2 and the third node N3 are virtually connected. That is, the amplifier OP controls the output voltage VP such that VOSC and Vload coincide with each other. Specifically, the amplifier OP decreases VP if VOSC>Vload (VP>V0) and increases VP if VOSC<Vload (VP<V0). As a result, VP is stabilized at V0 and VOSC and Vload are stabilized at V1.
Owing to such a configuration, in the VCO according to this embodiment, even when noise is generated in the voltage VP at the gate terminal of the first transistor M1, the voltage VOSC which is applied to the oscillator OSC becomes constant. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the phase noise of the oscillator OSC without connecting an extraneous load to the output side of the oscillator OSC.
Moreover, the output amplitude of the oscillator OSC (the amplitude of Vswing) is proportional to VOSC. Therefore, because of VOSC becoming constant, it is possible to stabilize the output amplitude of the oscillator OSC.
The first inductor L1 has one end connected to the second node N2 and the other end connected to a fourth node N4. The fourth node N4 is connected to an output terminal OUTN. The output terminal OUTN outputs the voltage at the fourth node N4.
The second inductor L2 has one end connected to the second node N2 and the other end connected to a fifth node N5. The fifth node N5 is connected to an output terminal OUTP. The output terminal OUTP outputs the voltage at the fifth node N5.
In
The first variable capacitance C1 has one end connected to the fourth node N4 and the other end connected to the fifth node N5. The first inductor L1, the second inductor L2, and the first variable capacitance C1 form an LC resonant circuit. Moreover, though not depicted in the drawing, to the first variable capacitance C1, a control circuit that controls a capacitance value is connected. By making the control circuit change the capacitance value of the first variable capacitance C1, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator OSC is controlled.
The third transistor M3 is an N-channel MOS transistor (hereinafter referred to as an “NMOS”) and has a source terminal connected to the grounding conductor (the second reference voltage line), a gate terminal connected to the fifth node N5, and a drain terminal connected to the fourth node N4.
The fourth transistor M4 is an NMOS and includes a source terminal connected to the grounding conductor (the second reference voltage line), a gate terminal connected to the fourth node N4, and a drain terminal connected to the fifth node N5.
In
Owing to such a configuration, the oscillator OSC of
The third inductor L3 has one end connected to a sixth node N6 and the other end connected to a seventh node N7. The sixth node N6 is connected to an output terminal OUTN. The output terminal OUTN outputs the voltage at the sixth node N6. The seventh node N7 is connected to an output terminal OUTP. The output terminal OUTP outputs the voltage at the seventh node N7.
The second variable capacitance C2 has one end connected to the sixth node N6 and the other end connected to the seventh node N7. The third inductor L3 and the second variable capacitance C2 form an LC resonant circuit. Moreover, though not depicted in the drawing, to the second variable capacitance C2, a control circuit that controls a capacitance value is connected. By making the control circuit change the capacitance value of the second variable capacitance C2, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator OSC is controlled.
The fifth transistor M5 is a PMOS and includes a source terminal connected to the second node N2, a gate terminal connected to the seventh node N7, and a drain terminal connected to the sixth node N6.
The sixth transistor M6 is a PMOS and includes a source terminal connected to the second node N2, a gate terminal connected to the sixth node N6, and a drain terminal connected to the seventh node N7.
In
The seventh transistor M7 is an NMOS and has a source terminal connected to the grounding conductor (the second reference voltage line), a gate terminal connected to the seventh node N7, and a drain terminal connected to the sixth node N6.
The eighth transistor M8 is an NMOS and has a source terminal connected to the grounding conductor (the second reference voltage line), a gate terminal connected to the sixth node N6, and a drain terminal connected to the seventh node N7.
In
Owing to such a configuration, the oscillator OSC of
The resistor R has one end connected to the third node N3 and the other end connected to the grounding conductor (the second reference voltage line). In
The resistor R has one end connected to the third node N3 and the other end connected to the anode terminal of the diode D. The diode D includes the anode terminal connected to the other end of the resistor R and a cathode terminal connected to the grounding conductor (the second reference voltage line). In
In general, under constant operating current conditions, the oscillator OSC has the following temperature dependence: the higher the temperature, the smaller the output amplitude. Therefore, if the load is a resistor, the oscillation amplitude is decreased depending on the temperature. However, as depicted in
This is because the voltage Vb of the diode D decreases with an increase in the temperature. If the voltage Vb of the diode D decreases when the temperature is high, a voltage (Vload−Vb) which is applied to the resistor R rises and a current flowing through the resistor R increases. Accordingly, a current flowing through the oscillator OSC also increases.
Thus, when the temperature is high, the output amplitude of the oscillator OSC is decreased due to the temperature dependence and is increased due to an increase in the current. As a result, these effects cancel each other out and the temperature dependence of the oscillator OSC is reduced.
The resistor R has one end connected to the third node N3 and the other end connected to a ninth node N9. The ninth transistor M9 is an NMOS and has a source terminal connected to a grounding conductor and a gate terminal and a drain terminal which are connected to the ninth node N9. That is, the ninth transistor M9 is diode-connected.
The drain-source voltage of the ninth transistor M9 decreases with an increase in the temperature. Therefore, even with the load Z of
In the above description, each of the first transistor M1 and the second transistor M2 is a PMOS, but each of the first transistor M1 and the second transistor M2 may be an NMOS. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram depicting a VCO that is obtained when each of the first transistor M1 and the second transistor M2 is an NMOS.
The first transistor M1 is an NMOS and includes a source terminal connected to the grounding conductor (the first reference voltage line), a gate terminal connected to the first node N1, and a drain terminal connected to the second node N2.
The second transistor M2 is an NMOS and includes a source terminal connected to the grounding conductor (the first reference voltage line), a gate terminal connected to the first node N1, and a drain terminal connected to the third node N3.
The load Z has one end connected to the third node N3 and the other end connected to the power-supply line (the second reference voltage line).
The amplifier OP is an operational amplifier and includes an output terminal connected to the first node N1, a negative input terminal (a first input terminal) connected to the second node N2, and a positive input terminal (a second input terminal) connected to the third node N3.
The oscillator OSC is an oscillator using an LC resonant circuit and has one end connected to the second node N2 and the other end connected to the power-supply line (the second reference voltage line). The oscillator OSC is driven by a current which is supplied from the first transistor M1 and outputs an oscillation signal from the output terminal OUT.
Owing to such a configuration, as described above, it is possible to reduce the phase noise of the oscillator OSC and stabilize the output amplitude. When the oscillator OSC of
That is, the oscillator OSC simply has to be connected to the VCO of
Next, a VCO according to a second embodiment is described with reference to
The comparator has a first input terminal connected to the second node N2 and a second input terminal connected to a reference voltage source (not depicted in the drawing). The comparator compares VOSC input from the first input terminal and a reference voltage Vref input from the second input terminal and outputs a signal in accordance with the comparison result.
The bias control circuit is a logic circuit and receives the output signal of the comparator which is input to the bias control circuit. The bias control circuit controls the size of the first transistor M1 in such away that VOSC and Vref become close to each other based on the comparison result obtained by the comparator. The bias control circuit controls the size of the first transistor M1 (performs calibration) at the time of start of the VCO.
In
The opening and closing of the switch SX is controlled by a control signal (Code [n-1:0]) from the bias control circuit. When the switch SX is turned on by the control signal, the gate terminal of the transistor mX and the first node N1 are connected to each other, a bias voltage Vbias(=VP) is applied to the gate terminal, and the transistor mX is turned on. Then, one or a plurality of transistors mX which have been turned on function as the first transistor M1 having the total size of the transistors mX which have been turned on.
As described above, by selecting the transistor mX which is turned on by the control signal, the bias control circuit controls the size of the first transistor M1. If the first transistor M1 is formed of n transistors mX, the size of the first transistor M1 is controlled in 2N−1 levels.
As described above, the output amplitude of the oscillator OSC varies depending on the temperature. Therefore, for example, there is a possibility that the output amplitude is decreased when the temperature is high and an intended output amplitude is not obtained. However, the VCO according to this embodiment controls the size of the first transistor M1 in such a way that VOSC and Vref are close to each other at the time of start. As a result, for example, when the temperature is high, the size of the first transistor M1 is set as a larger size, the current of the oscillator OSC increases, and the output amplitude is increased. As described above, by controlling the size of the first transistor M1, it is possible to adjust the output amplitude of the VCO to an intended magnitude.
Moreover, since the comparator and the bias control circuit are turned off during the operation of the VCO, the comparator and the bias control circuit do not contribute to noise. Therefore, it is possible to control the output amplitude while reducing the phase noise of the VCO.
THIRD EMBODIMENTNext, a VCO according to a third embodiment is described with reference to
The amplitude detector is connected to the output terminal OUT, receives an output voltage Vswing of the oscillator OSC which is input thereto, and detects an output amplitude (the amplitude of Vswing).
The comparator compares the output amplitude Vdet detected by the amplitude detector and the reference voltage Vref and outputs a comparison result.
The bias control circuit receives the comparison result input from the comparator and controls the size of the first transistor M1 (performs calibration) in such a way that the output amplitude Vdet and the reference voltage Vref are close to each other. Calibration is performed at the time of start of the VCO, and, after the completion of calibration, the amplitude detector stops the operation thereof. As is the case with the second embodiment, calibration is performed by searching for a size in which Vdet and Vref are close to each other while gradually reducing the size of the first transistor M1.
As described above, by controlling the size of the first transistor M1, the VCO according to this embodiment may adjust the output amplitude of the VCO to an intended magnitude. Moreover, since the amplitude detector is turned off during the operation of the VCO, the amplitude detector does not contribute to noise. Furthermore, unlike the existing method, since there is no need to take noise which is generated in the amplitude detector into consideration, it is possible to reduce the size of an element forming the circuit so that the element is too small to be visible as a load of the VCO. This makes it possible to control the output amplitude while reducing the phase noise of the VCO.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Claims
1. A stabilized oscillator comprising:
- a first transistor that includes a source terminal connected to a first reference voltage line, a gate terminal connected to a first node, and a drain terminal connected to a second node;
- a second transistor that includes a source terminal connected to the first reference voltage line, a gate terminal connected to the first node, and a drain terminal connected to a third node;
- a load that has one end connected to the third node and another end connected to a second reference voltage line;
- an amplifier that has an output terminal connected to the first node, a first input terminal connected to the second node, and a second input terminal connected to the third node; and
- an oscillator that includes an LC resonant circuit, the oscillator having one end connected to the second node and another end connected to the second reference voltage line.
2. The oscillator according to claim 1, wherein the oscillator includes
- a first inductor having one end connected to the second node and another end connected to a fourth node,
- a second inductor having one end connected to the second node and another end connected to a fifth node,
- a variable capacitance having one end connected to the fourth node and another end connected to the fifth node,
- a third transistor including a source terminal connected to the second reference voltage line, a gate terminal connected to the fifth node, and a drain terminal connected to the fourth node, and
- a fourth transistor including a source terminal connected to the second reference voltage line, a gate terminal connected to the fourth node, and a drain terminal connected to the fifth node.
3. The oscillator according to claim 1, wherein each of the first transistor and the second transistor is a P-channel MOS transistor.
4. The oscillator according to claim 3, wherein each of the third transistor and the fourth transistor is an N-channel MOS transistor.
5. The oscillator according to claim 1, wherein the oscillator includes
- a first inductor having one end connected to the first reference voltage line and another end connected to a fourth node,
- a second inductor having one end connected to the first reference voltage line and another end connected to a fifth node,
- a variable capacitance having one end connected to the fourth node and another end connected to the fifth node,
- a third transistor that includes a source terminal connected to the second node, a gate terminal connected to the fifth node, and a drain terminal connected to the fourth node, and
- a fourth transistor that includes a source terminal connected to the second node, a gate terminal connected to the fourth node, and a drain terminal connected to the fifth node.
6. The oscillator according to claim 1, wherein the load includes a resistor.
7. The oscillator according to claim 1, wherein the load includes a resistor and a diode that are connected in series.
8. The oscillator according to claim 1, wherein the load includes a resistor and a transistor that are connected in series.
9. The oscillator according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a comparator that compares a voltage at the second node and a reference voltage; and
- a control circuit that controls a size of the first transistor based on a comparison result obtained by the comparator.
10. The oscillator according to claim 9, wherein the control circuit controls the size so that the voltage at the second node and the reference voltage are close to each other.
11. The oscillator according to claim 1, further comprising:
- an amplitude detector that detects an output amplitude of the oscillator;
- a comparator that compares the output amplitude and a reference voltage; and
- a control circuit that controls a size of the first transistor based on a comparison result obtained by the comparator.
12. A stabilized oscillator comprising
- first and second transistors, each having a gate, source and drain, the gates of the first and second transistors connected to each other and the sources of the first and second transistors connected to each other and to a first reference voltage;
- a high-gain amplifier having a positive input, a negative input, and an output, the amplifier output connected to the gates of the first and second transistors, the positive amplifier input connected to the drain of the second transistor, the negative amplifier input connected to the drain of the first transistor;
- an oscillator connected between a second reference voltage line and the drain of the first transistor to receive current from the first transistor; and
- a load connected between the second reference voltage line and the drain of the second transistor to receive current from the second transistor,
- wherein the drain voltage of the second transistor coincides with the drain voltage of the first transistor.
13. The stabilized oscillator according to claim 12, wherein the load includes a resistor connected between the second reference voltage and the drain of the second transistor.
14. The stabilized oscillator according to claim 12, wherein the load includes a resistor and a diode connected in series and between the second reference voltage and the drain of the second transistor.
15. The stabilized oscillator according to claim 12, wherein the load includes a resistor and a diode-connected transistor connected in series and between the second reference voltage and the drain of the second transistor.
16. The stabilized oscillator according to claim 12, wherein the first transistor is implemented from a plurality of transistors of different sizes and arranged in parallel, the stabilized oscillator further comprising:
- a comparator that compares the drain voltage of the first transistor to a third reference voltage line and provide comparison results at an output; and
- a bias control logic that receives the comparator output and enables one or more transistors among the plurality of transistors in order to set the size of the first transistor based on the comparator output.
17. The stabilized oscillator according to claim 16, wherein the bias control logic generates a code that selects the one or more transistors among the plurality of transistors.
18. The stabilized oscillator according to claim 12, wherein the first transistor is implemented from a plurality of transistors of different sizes and arranged in parallel, the stabilized oscillator further comprising:
- a peak detector that generates a voltage output when the oscillator output is at a maximum voltage;
- a comparator that compares the voltage output of the peak detector to a third reference voltage line and provides comparison results at an output; and
- a bias control logic that receives the comparator output and enables one or more transistors among the plurality of transistors in order to set the size of the first transistor.
19. A method of stabilizing an oscillator, the method comprising:
- providing via a first path a voltage and a current to the oscillator, the oscillator generating an oscillation signal at an output terminal, the oscillation signal having a particular voltage swing;
- providing via a second path a voltage and current to a load, wherein the oscillator voltage coincides with the load voltage without the load being connected to the oscillator; and
- stabilizing the voltage to the load so that the voltage swing of the oscillation signal is stabilized.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the load is temperature stabilized.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 26, 2015
Publication Date: Sep 1, 2016
Inventor: Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI (Yokohama Kanagawa)
Application Number: 14/836,879